Harlow PJC-2

Harlow PJC-2
Harlow PJC-2
Role	Four-seat cabin monoplane
Manufacturer	Harlow Aircraft Company
Designer	Max Harlow
First flight	1937
Number built	11
Variants	Harlow PC-5

The Harlow PJC-2 was a 1930s American four-seat cabin monoplane, designed by Max Harlow.

Development

Max Harlow was an aeronautical engineer and instructor at the Pasadena Junior College. Under his tutelage, the aircraft designated PJC-1 was designed and built as a class project. The PJC-1 first flew on 14 September 1937 but it crashed during an extended (more than six turn) spin test with the center of gravity ballasted to the aft limit, as it was going through the certification process -- a problem generally laid at the feet the unusually rigorous spin test requirement and the government test pilot, who bailed out of the airplane after the spin "flattened out." The airplane struck the ground, still in the "flat" (longitudinally level) attitude in a bean field near Mines Field (now Los Angeles International Airport) with considerable damage; although repairable, the PJC-1 was never returned to service. PJC students then built a slightly modified airplane, which became the PJC-2 model, serial number 1. It was one of the first, if not the first, airplane designed and built in the U.S. with a stressed-skin semi-monocoque structure -- a revolutionary design feature for the time. Harlow saw the potential and formed the Harlow Aircraft Company to build PJC-2 aircraft at Alhambra Airport. The PJC-2 was an all-metal low-wing cantilever monoplane with conventional low-set tailplane and a retractable tailwheel landing gear. A tandem two-seat version intended as a military trainer was developed as the Harlow PC-5.

Four aircraft were impressed into United States Army Air Forces service with the designation UC-80 in 1942, and used by Civil Aeronautics Administration inspectors after WW II.

Operational History

As of 1991, 3 PJC-2's were actively flying.

Variants

PJC-1

Prototype, one built.

PJC-2

One prototype, serial number 1, a Warner Super Scarab radial engine, followed by 10 production airplanes. Most remaining examples have been re-engined with a Warner 165 HP or 185 HP engine.

Specifications Harlow PJC-2

Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2099

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Capacity: Three passengers
• Length: 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m)
• Wingspan: 35 ft 10 in (10.92 m)
• Height: 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m)
• Wing area: 185 ft² (17.19 m²)
• Empty weight: 1661 lb (753 kg)
• Gross weight: 2600 lb (1179 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Warner Super Scarab Series 50 7-cylinder radial piston engine, 145 hp (108 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 160 mph (257 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 140 mph (224 km/h)
• Range: 490 miles (788 km)
• Service ceiling: 15,500 ft (4725 m)

References

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2099
• A Harlow owners website

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Globe Swift
• Spartan Executive

Related lists

• List of aircraft of World War II
• List of military aircraft of the United States